In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, December 26, 2021, the life of 39-year-old Christopher Gilbert, a male, was cut short by violence in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The fatal encounter occurred at approximately 2 a.m. at the John England Manor housing complex on Dinah Washington Avenue. Responding to reports of a shooting, Tuscaloosa Police officers discovered Gilbert with multiple gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to a local hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit promptly initiated a thorough investigation into the shooting. Their efforts, which included interviewing numerous witnesses and processing evidence, led them to identify a suspect by that evening. Thirty-year-old Calvin Lee Willis was apprehended and charged with murder in connection with Gilbert's death. The arrest was carried out by the Tuscaloosa Police Department's Special Response Team, a measure taken due to the gravity of the offense and Willis's prior criminal record.
Further investigation revealed that Willis was also a suspect in another shooting that had taken place earlier the same evening. In that incident, another individual sustained minor injuries. Consequently, in addition to the murder charge for the death of Christopher Gilbert, Willis was also charged with attempted murder. Authorities noted that as a convicted felon, Willis was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail, with his bond for the murder charge set at $150,000. The motives for both shootings remained under investigation.
